Share a positive story, anecdote or compliment about someone else in this hobby
P0CKETCHANGE
Posts: 3,027 ✭✭✭✭✭
There’s too much negativity going around here lately. The universe of serious coin collectors is small and all the nonsense and accusations only weaken our community.
Let’s create some good karma by sharing appreciation for other folks who have helped us, in ways small or large, in our journey in this hobby. No rules other than keeping it positive.
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Here’s mine:
When I was a YN and very early in my collecting career, I started buying an occasional coin on eBay.
I won a common Mercury dime in auction and traded a few messages with the seller—those were the earlier days of eBay where there was more direct communication. I don’t recall why, but I mentioned to the seller that I was a YN that recently started getting more interested in coins, which he seemed happy to hear.
When my shipment arrived, it included not only the dime I’d won, but also an unexpected surprise: a PCGS capped bust quarter in VF30! It became my oldest coin by over a century. I was elated!
While I don’t recall who that seller was, or if he’s still around, I’ll never forget the generosity that someone selflessly showed me in this hobby. It’s a good reminder to do more to pay it forward.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Comments
Shoutout to Michael at Original US coins. He has such a great attitude and presence, is always kind to my kid at shows, has great material and is always willing to share knowledge.
I sold some gold to a couple, over the last week. A few hours later, the husband called and wanted to thank me. I said, " Thanks, but you already thanked me when you left". He said; ..." well we really want to thank you".
I know that's positive, but it made me suspicious
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
On another note, I called. Rick S. ( Colonel Jessup) about a week ago with questions. He is such a great guy. He has always taken my calls. It's no wonder he and Mr Eureka are friends. Some dealers have always taken the time to share insight and knowledge. There are a lot of prominent guys in this business who would take any of our calls to help.
That's a coin fact.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
Rick and Andy are two of the best!
My positive story.
My 1866 Philly Mint Set
Hi, just a post to say the view from jail isn't bad. They gave me a cell with the view of the water!!!
Years ago I placed a bid on a political token in a Joe Levine auction. When the results were posted, I found out that the lot had sold for less than I had bid. This was not the first time this had happened to me. The late Joe Levine ran a manual system and sometimes he missed bids.
As it so happened, Dave Bowers won the lot. When he heard about what had happened, he sold the piece to me for the price he had paid.
That was very classy to say the least. 
Jerryboy rented a cabin on Lake George and invited a bunch of people here for a fantastic party.
Speaking of the late Joe Levine, when I received an inaugural medal that I felt I wasn't happy with he sent me another and a check to cover return postage of the first one.
I ended up keeping both and sending him his check back as well as payment for the second medal.
Seriously though. A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to be one of the winners of the River of No Return First Discovery W quarters.
I was so excited I took my wife to Florida for the 2020 FUN show. My favorite memory was being able to attend the invitation only PCGS luncheon where they introduced their launch of graded paper currency. They gave away graded $2 bills if I remember correctly.
After the luncheon I was able to chat with a member of the management team who was a former grader. He took the time to explain to me what separates a MS68 from a MS67 coin and how luster is one of the more desirable traits which is determined at the time of strike. I was impressed with his knowledge and kindness for taking the time to educate me while not talking down to me.
He also told me it is not necessary to wear gloves while handling a coin but to do your best to hold it by the edge. I told him my wife would laugh at me for wearing white cotton gloves during my CRH for W quarters. 🤣😂
I think his name was Steve....
Anyway, it was over 3 years ago but it made a lasting impression on me.😎
Here's another Joe Levine story. I purchased a Nathanel Greene Comitia Americana Medal in one of his auctions. It was supposed to be a 19th century issue. I had some doubts at the time, but held on to it.
Years later John Kraljevich and I were looking at the piece. He came to the conclusion that it was a modern strike that had been doctored. I contacted Joe and he took the piece back despite the fact that the auction had been several years earlier.
I have plenty of stories of various board members, but instead, I was reminded of this one while reading through QDB's book on Continental currency a few weekends ago...
On my 18th birthday, I was at the Baltimore show, and I happened to run into QDB (the only time I've met/seen/talked to him). He found out it was my birthday and insisted that he walk me across the bourse floor to the Whitman table, where he proceeded to pick out one of his books, sign it, and give it to me.
Back in ancient times at the turn of this century, Mark F. was a dealer in business for himself and bought my 14K draped bust dime from the BST and called me to say I was selling it too cheaply. Since he paid my asking price I did not worry about leaving something on the table for him. A few weeks later he sent me a surprise check for $1500 which was half the profit he made when he resold the coin at a show. He became my go-to dealer for selling type coins after that.
Those were the days when you could find giants among coin dealers, or maybe I'm just getting old.
Commems and Early Type
This is an old story for me but a positive one.
I was a paper boy in the early 1970-s. My route included an apartment building where I delivered 4 papers, which was great, but the 5th paper I had to take all the way to the 4th floor attic. A long trek up steep stairs. Everyone else had a ground floor mailbox for theirs.
That year the go to gift for all paperboys in America was a ten roll book of life savers. I bet I got 35 or 40 of those that year. The fellow in the attic also handed me a present that matched the lifesaver MO. WooHoo! His present felt lighter that is all. Oh, and he informed me that I no longer had to bring him his paper because he was moving.
Christmas day I open his present and there is no candy inside. Instead there is a note that says, "Everyone tells me you are nuts about coins. Hope you don't have the one I got for you.
Oh, and sorry about the candy. I have a sweet tooth."
Inside was a 1921-S Walking liberty Half in fine 15. No, I did not have one, but I would have been much less grumpy the 4 years I delivered his paper if I had known about the payoff.
that apartment was across from our school and several teachers lived there. that is the only way I figured he learned about me. James
Thank you, Dr. Mikey.
If, by chance you were talking about the turn of the 20th (and not the 21st) century, I’m afraid we’re both getting old.😬
😉
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
I have to thank many people here, too many to list at this time, for the great knowledge and great coins posted daily. The thread about "coin collecting advise" contained a huge amount of great info (for just one thread), I have become a bit more patient and focused in what I am buying. I am aware of many more details to look for. I haven't bought as many coins lately but I am much happier with the coins that I have recently purchased. I have also bought a few numismatic books. I thank pretty much everyone here. I don't have a huge amount to add but I am happy to be part of the group! Many here have helped me and I have to think that you all have helped others also, whether it's posted here or not.
Tonedeaf is a nickname given to me in reference to my guitar playing ability.
One of my first purchases on this forum was back in the day from Dog97. It was a $300. coin and I don't recall if Paypal was popular then or not. Regardless I sent a personal check.
Fast forward a few days and the coin arrives well before Dog would have had the chance to receive and cash my check.
It touched me the level of trust and community within this forum.
Ever since then if I deal with someone here who prefers paying by a personal check I too will mail the coin the same day they're mailing the check- let alone waiting for it to arrive first.
I've never been burned and as I was, I think it is a gesture that is appreciated.
peacockcoins
I met Roger Burdette in Baltimore 2003/2004. He was giving a talk and I introduced myself. I had visited the National Archives in Philadelphia on numerous occasions and told him I had researched the RG104 records; particularly everything to do with 1964 Mint records. He told me he was working on a new book about Peace dollars. I told him I saw correspondence concerning the “1964 Dollar Project”; something he had not seen at the National Archives in Maryland. I sent him the letter. Months later, the book comes out and a copy arrives at my house. How thoughtful of him (but if you’ve met him, not surprising). I open the book and on the page where he lists credits, there’s my name. I sent him one piece of paper where others had contributed hours and volumes. A class act.
Chester Powderski was a local Chicago dealer who set up at Club of Illinois Numismatists meetings from the 1960s on.. He always treated the young numismatists fairly. I last saw Chester in 1986 when I attended a few meetings during visits to the Chicago area. (I first met him in early 1962). I recall reading that Chester passed away around 2003 at age 93.
Too many to list, but a few are mentioned below.
In 1963 when I was a 7 year old YN the father (a coin collector) of a classmate of mine found out I was collecting. He kindly gave me two MS 1943 D Nickels, both blast white. I put them both into a blue Whitman album and they stayed there for over 40 years. I still have these coins and this one I had graded last year.
My thanks to him for his kindness.
The Penny Lady has sold me multiple early Lincolns over the years at California shows. Always a treat to speak to Charmy and to purchase some eye appealing toned early Lincolns.
Many, many dealers throughout the Western US have allowed me to look through their inventory and to cherrypick high quality raw coins and purchase them at modest prices. To them I say thanks. Other dealers are not willing to do so, as is their right. To the dealers who allow me to snoop, my thanks to you.
Various forum members have been great to me over the years. Meet and greets in person with them, sharing photos and PMs with them, selling to them and buying from them. To them go my thanks.
To our host (for creating and maintaining the forums) go my thanks.
Todd @pursuitofliberty was instrumental in being an advisor in my first numismatic research project. He read too many revisions of my work to count, and spent countless hours mentoring me on my writing style and giving advice in ways I would have never thought of.
It's people like Todd who give their time and energy to help a random kid on the internet that make me smile. I'm glad I got to know him, and I'm forever grateful for his help. I know that not many people would be willing to give so much for nothing in return, and his actions were a lesson in kindness that I will always remember.
From what I’ve seen of your posts, Todd did a great job. But don’t let him know that I complimented him.😉
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
Too many people to even know where to begin. There are way more good apples than bad ones in the coin collecting community. You know who you are and thanks to all the good 🍎.
Successful BST with ad4400, Kccoin, lablover, pointfivezero, koynekwest, jwitten, coin22lover, HalfDimeDude, erwindoc, jyzskowsi, COINS MAKE CENTS, AlanSki, BryceM
You old birds may remember a forum member named Steve Cohen. He was the very proud owner of the coin below. He had won it on a Teletrade auction in an Old ANACS 63 R&B holder. He had it cross at PCGS as 61 R&B. You could feel his pride of ownership every time he posted and would gladly tell anyone listening that he was the owner of 1909 VDB Matte Proof Lincoln.
Steve is no longer with us and his pride and joy is now owned by me. I have told this story before. Often I would send Steve proofs I had upgraded for my registry set. It seemed odd to me that a collector would own a very rare MPL and yet his regular proofs were rather low graded and frankly these were not high-grade specimens I was sending him – maybe PR 66 at best. They were not worth my time to list on eBay so I figured what the heck, help a fellow collector out. We would exchange emails now and then and then he told me one day that his family was not interested his collection and sought my opinion on what he should do. I recommended he get Angel Dees to consign them and that way neither he nor his family would have to worry, Andy and Alynne would take of everything.
So in May of 2018 I was driving across country and the phone rang near Tuskegee, Alabama. It was Andy Skarbalack. After some small talk he informed me that he had the consignment Steve Cohens proof collection. Steve had a note requesting I get first offer of refusal on his beloved 1909 VDB MPL. I was shocked, but not nearly as shocked to learn that he had passed. Funny thing is my wife was in the car listening to the conversation. She is not a collector and only hears me chime in about this or that coin, but she knew enough to understand what was being offered – a very rare coin - and told me to accept the offer. So I did.As usual- Andy was gracious and willing to wait till I returned 3 weeks later from my trip to settle the payment.
I had told Steve on many occasions that the coin was worth its old grade ANACS had given – 63 R&B. I told him to crack it out and resubmit it. Well, it was my coin now. And I immediately cracked and resubmitted it and it came back 63 R&B. Sure – it's not the most impressive eye appealing example. But thanks to Steve, whom I never met in person, and Andy Skarbalak, I am in possession of a cent I thought I would never own.
Wow! That one even caught me speechless. And that is a true rarity!
Thank you @FlyingAl Really, really!
As for you @MFeld
“We are only their care-takers,” he posed, “if we take good care of them, then centuries from now they may still be here … ”
Todd - BHNC #242
There are far too many great dealers out there to mention them all. But for any who is involved with Early American Copper, I am sure you would be familiar with Chris Victor McCawley in Austin. He is expert in his field and a true pleasure to know and to deal with.
i myself like to collect silver coins u.s. silver coins to be precise. i had occassion to buy some mexican silver some .700 some .900 any way i was admiring the coin i had purchased with an aztec king on one side and the eagle and serpant on the other. The love of my life walked into the room so i showed her the mexican coin. now guess who has quite the collection of mexican silver, my wife of course now she is an avid foriegn coin collector of the silver kind she has old 19th century german silver coins as well as turn of the century mexican silver. so my household went from housing one collector to two (hmm that looks gramatically wrong). any way my wife becoming a collector is my story thanks
Two individuals have helped me tremendously in my pursuit of a top 5 Silver Roosevelt fb Registry set. I started with a simple ms65fb set. Somewhere along the way I moved to ms66fb and made contact with Gary ( who has a long last name which I can't pronounce ) who helped tremendously in completing my set in ms67fb. Then # 4 in the Registry. Then I found Dannie Biddle through this forum. Dannie had the then # 3 set. When he would upgrade, he'd call me with his Roosies that were now available. As he recently liquidated his set, I was able to pick up several ms67+ fb's and moved into the # 3 spot vacated by Dannie. Forever grateful to these two who are a couple of the nicest, most helpful guys I've ever met in my 59 years of collecting.
What, no water closet.
Sadly, though no longer with us, I never forget to acknowledge Ed Fleischmann,James Johnson, and Jo and Warren Lindsey. The Lindseys from Dresden,Ohio. Ed and James from Sidney,Ohio. For the help I received all those years ago in cultivating my interest in error coinage. Good deeds never go unforgotten. Thanks again.
Do you still retain the gifted coin?
I am currently at Stack's Bowers Professional Numismatist Program entirely funded by the generocity of the firm. If I did not have this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn and network with some of the industry's most experienced dealers, I would not have pushed forward into making numismatics a career. There are many extremely bright, young individuals here that will continue this hobby at large.
P.S. +1 @pursuitofliberty for his friendly and thorough communication. Can't wait to meet you next week at the ANA!
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you" Matthew 6:33. Young fellow suffering from Bust Half fever.
BHNC #AN-10
JRCS #1606
Many years ago I was working on a short set of 2.5 libs from 1880-1899. Some of those are scarce. I found one I was missing at Long Beach and purchased it. I was very happy to find it in a P64 holder even though I was looking for solid 65's.
I'm walking the floor and I see Andy.... Mr. Eureka. He'll never remember the interaction. I hand him the coin. A frown comes over his face. " This coin has been played with" or similar. He holds it up to examine it in such a way that you could see how the fields had been smoothed.
"Loose it".
I did. Took a little bit of a beating but the education was priceless and that edu has saved me a lot of grief the last 10-15 years.
Thank you Mr. Eureka.
No, I sold it many years ago, unfortunately.
Nothing is as expensive as free money.
Slickcoins taught me about Adam Eckfeld.
Two fine gentlemen!
Roger Burdette is a great asset to the numismatic community. I am happy to see that he is being given the ANA's Numismatist of the Year Award in Pittsburgh!
There are many people, most of them here, who have had a positive influence in my collecting and enjoyment in the hobby. A few that come to mind...
@OriginalDan for the neverending advice and guidance regarding collecting, coin evaluation, and introduction to the larger (relatively speaking 😂) world of chopmarks.
@ChopmarkedTrades for more of the same and for creating an amazing reference work on chopmarks that is the best coin book on my shelf.
Noah from Numismattack and @DeplorableDan have been great friends who are always there to talk about all things coins.
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
Lots of great folks here, and many now gone... but as far as truly nice guys, one sprang to mind instantly...
RIP Mom- 1932-2012
Since I got deep into the capped bust half dimes a few years back, one gentleman has been a particularly generous mentor: @Barndog. Nobody knows the series like he does, and he's been incredibly generous with his time and expertise. I've bounced a thousand questions off him: "what about this die crack?" or "can you validate my attribution of this coin?" or "is this one worth buying?" I always get prompt and honest answers and good advice. (Sometimes I actually take the advice! heheh). He's tipped me off to some great acquisitions, and steered me away from some that I probably would have regretted. I can't imagine my set being anywhere close to where it is today without him. Big tip o' the hat to him.
If I tried to list all the other dealers and friends who've been helpful along the journey I could fill up a couple pages (and then be worried I'd left someone off the list). But Barndog has given so freely of his time, without expectation of return other than knowing he's coached a fellow half dime fan, that I have to say a public thanks!
My (infrequently updated) hobby website Groovycoins.com
Barndog will be attending the ANA show at table 1026, Dave Perkins...
I have responded to this question previously, but would like to promote one individual I have come across as a collector. Dick Osburn. Many years ago I called his company thinking I would buy a Seated dollar from one of his Coin World ads. Instead we ended up having a conversation that lasted about an hour. He quizzed me about my previous collecting history. He gave me a profile of what to look for with Seated Coins:; something I was just starting.
he talked me OUT of buying any of the coins in his add because he said he knew I would be disappointed. As time progressed I did end up buying some coins from his company but have never forgotten his advice or the fact he took so much time to speak with someone who wasn't a customer at the time. James
P.S. One piece of advice he gave was, "Try to look at each coin through the eyes of the NEXT buyer. Doesn't matter if you say you will never sell. Learn this trick and you will build a much better collection." Words I still live by.